Shiv Telegram Media Unveils New Approach: Keeping Home Screen Web Apps in Europe
2 min read
In a surprising turn of events, Apple has decided to backtrack on its decision to limit the functionality of Home Screen web apps in Europe. This change came after facing backlash from the developer community and the looming threat of further investigation.
The tech giant has now updated its developer documentation to ensure continued support for Home Screen web apps in the EU. This move aligns with the security and privacy model of native apps on iOS and is set to come into effect with the release of iOS 17.4, which is currently in beta testing.
The initial decision to remove support for Home Screen web apps in European Union member states was made as the deadline to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) drew near. Apple had to make necessary changes to its iOS operating system in order to adhere to the DMA, which included allowing third-party app stores and third-party browser engines.
The attempt to eliminate Home Screen web apps was widely viewed as an effort to prevent the rise of web apps as a potential threat to the App Store. Open Web Advocacy (OWA) condemned Apple’s decision and even penned an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook urging him to reconsider.
Ultimately, it was the combination of strong protests from developers and the rumored initiation of an investigation by regulators that led to Apple reversing its stance on Home Screen web apps. OWA continues to advocate for a fair playing field for web apps by demanding that they be powered by browsers and browser engines beyond just Safari’s WebKit engine.
As Euro watchdogs assess the situation, the challenge lies in reconciling the DMA’s requirement for Apple to support alternative browsers and browser engines with Apple’s preference for using Safari’s WebKit engine for Home Screen web apps. It remains to be seen how this issue will unfold in the coming months.
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